 Chapter 117-121 of the autobiography of Benvenuto Zellini. The autobiography of Benvenuto Zellini, Volume 1, translated by John Eddington Simons. Chapter 117-121 The castellan, meanwhile, ill and afflicted as he was, had himself transported to my prison and exclaimed, you see that I have recaptured you. Yes, said I, but you see that I escaped as I told you I would. And if I had not been sold by a Venetian cardinal, under papal guarantee, for the price of a bishopric, the pope a Roman and a Farnese, and both of them have scratched with impious hands the face of the most sacred laws, you would not have recovered me. But now that they have opened this vile way of dealing, do you the worst you can in your turn, I care for nothing in the world. The wretched man began shouting at the top of his voice, Ah, woe is me, woe is me! It is all the same to this fellow, whether he lives or dies, and behold, he is more fiery than when he was in health. Put him down there below the garden, and do not speak to me of him again, for he is the destined cause of my death. So I was taken into a gloomy dungeon below the level of a garden, which swam with water, and was full of big spiders and many venomous worms. They flung me of wretched mattress, of course hemp, gave me no supper, unlocked four doors upon me. In that condition I abode until the nineteenth hour of the following day. Then I received food, and I requested my jailers to give me some of my books to read. None of them spoke a word, but they referred my prayer to the unfortunate Castellan, who had made inquiries concerning what I said. Next morning they brought me an Italian Bible, which belonged to me, and a copy of the Chronicles of Giovanni Villani. When I asked for certain other of my books, I was told that I could have no more, and that I had got too many already. Thus then I continued to exist in misery upon that rotten mattress, which in three days soaked up water like a sponge. I could hardly stir because of my broken leg, and when I had to get out of bed to obey a call of nature, I crawled on all fours with extreme distress, in order not to fall the place I slept in. For one hour and a half each day I got a little murmuring of light, which penetrated that unhappy cavern through a very narrow aperture. Only for so short a space of time could I read. The rest of the day and night I abode in darkness, enduring my lot, nor ever without meditations upon God and on our human frailty. I thought it certain that a few more days would put an end of my unlucky life in that sad place and in that miserable manner. Nevertheless, as well as I was able, I comforted my soul by calling to mind how much more painful it would have been on passing from this life to have suffered that unimaginable horror of the hangman's knife. Now, being as I was, I should depart with the unevenness of sleepiness, which robbed death of half its former terrors. Little by little, I felt my vital forces waning, until at last my vicarous temperament had become adapted to that purgatory. When I felt it quite acclimatized, I resolved to put up with all those indescribable discomforts so long as it held out. Chapter 118 I began the Bible from the commencement, reading and reflecting on it so devoutly, and finding in its such deep treasures of delight, that if I had been able, I should have done not else but study it. However, light was haunting, and the thought of all my troubles kept recurring and gnawing at me in the darkness, until I often made my mind up to put an end somehow to my own life. So it did not allow me a knife, however, and so it was no easy matter to commit suicide. Once, notwithstanding, I took and propped a wooden pole I found there, in position like a trap. I meant to make it topple over on my head, and it would certainly have dashed my brains out. But when I had arranged the whole machine, and was approaching to put it in motion, just at the moment of my setting my hand to it, I was seized by an invisible power, and flung four qubits from the spot, in such a terror that I lay half-dead. Like that I remained, from dawn until the nineteenth hour, when they brought me food. The jailers must have visited myself several times without my taking notice of them. For when at last I heard them, Captain Sandrino Monaldi had entered, and I heard him saying, Ah, unhappy man, behold the end to which so rare a genius has come. Rosed by these words I opened my eyes, and caught sight of priests, with long gowns on their backs, who were saying, Oh, you told us he was dead. But they replied, Dead I found him, and therefore I told you so. Then they lifted me from where I lay, and after shaking up the mattress, which was now as soppy as a dish of macaroni, they flung it outside the dungeon. The castellan, when these things were reported to him, sent me another mattress. Thereafter, when I searched my memory to find what could have diverted me from that design of suicide, I came to the conclusion that it must have been some power divine, and my good guardian angel. During the following night there appeared to me in dreams a marvelous being, in the form of the most lovely youth, who cried, as though he wanted to reprove me. No is too who lends thee that body, which though would have spoiled before its time. I seemed to answer that I recognized all things pertaining to me, as gifts from the God of nature. So then he said, Though hast contempt for his candy-work, Through this I will to spoil it, Commit thyself unto his guidance, And loose not hope in his great goodness. Much more he added, in words of marvelous efficiency, and southens part of which I cannot now remember. I began to consider that the angel of my vision spoke the truth, so I cast my eyes around the prison, and saw some scraps of rotten brick, with the fragments of which, rubbing one against the other, I composed a paste. Then, creeping on all fours, as I was compelled to go, I crawled up to an angle of my dungeon door, and knaved a splinter from it with my teeth. Having achieved this feat, I waited till the light came on my prison. That was from the hour of twenty-and-a-half to twenty-one-and-a-half. When it arrived, I began to write, the best I could, on some blank pages in my Bible, and rebuked the regions of my intellectual self, for being too impatient to endure this life. So I replied to my body with excuses drawn from all that they had suffered, and the body gave them hope of better fortune. To this effect, then, by way of dialogue, I wrote as follows. Benvenuto in the body Afflicted regions of my soul, ah cruel ye, have ye such hate of life? The spirits of his soul, if heaven against your all, who stands for us, who saves us in the strife, let us owe, let us go toward better life. Benvenuto Nay, go not yet a while, ye shall be happier and lighter far, heaven gives this hope, than ye were ever yet, the spirits. We will remain some little while, if only by great God you promised our, such a grace that no worth woes on us be set. After this I recovered strength, and when I had heartened up myself, I continued reading in the Bible, and my eyes became so used to that darkness, that I could now read for three hours, and I could not read for three hours, instead of the bare hour and a half, I was able to employ before. With profound astonishment, I dwelt upon the force of God's spirit, in those men of great simplicity, who believed so fervently, that he would bring all their heart's desire to pass. I then proceeded to reckon in my own case, too, on God's assistance, both because of his divine power and mercy, and also because of my own innocence, and at all hours, sometimes in prayer, and sometimes in communion with God, I abode in those high thoughts of him. There flowed into my soul so powerful a delight from these reflections upon God, that I took no further thought for all the anguish I had suffered, but rather spent the day in singing Psalms and diverse other compositions on the theme of his divinity. I was greatly troubled, however, by one particular annoyance. My nails had grown so long, that I could not touch my body without wounding it. I could not dress myself but what they turned inside or out to my great torment. Moreover, my teeth began to perish in my mouth. I became aware of this, because the dead teeth being pushed on by the living ones. My gums were gradually perforated, and the points of the roots pierced through the tops of their cases. When I was aware of this, I used to pull one out, as though it were a weapon from a scabbard, without any pain or loss of blood. Very many of them did I lose in this way. Nevertheless, I accommodated myself to these new troubles also. At times I sang, at times I prayed, and at times I wrote by means of the paste of brick dust I have described above. At this time I began composing a Capitolo in praise of my prison, relating in it all the accidents which had befallen me. This poem I meant to insert in its proper place. Note, Capitolo is the technical name for a copy of verses in Terza Rima on a chosen theme. Poems of this kind, mostly burlesque or satirical, were very popular in Salini's age. They used to be written on trifling or obscene subjects in a mock herrick style. Baroni stemmed the character of high art upon the species, which had long been in use among the unlettered vulgar. End of the note. Chapter 120 The Good Castle unused frequently, to send messengers, to find out secretly what I was doing. So it happened on the last day of July, that I was rejoicing greatly by myself alone, while I bestowed me of the festival they keep in Rome upon the 1st of August, and I was saying to myself, In former years I kept the feast among the pleasures and the frailties of the world. This year I shall keep it in communion with God. Oh how far more happy am I thus than I was then. The persons who heard me speak these words, reported them to the castellan. He was greatly annoyed and exclaimed, Oh God, that fellow lives and triumphs in his infinite distress, while I lack all things in the midst of comfort, and I'm dying only on account of him. Go quickly and fling him into that deepest of the subterranean dungeons, where the preacher for Yano was starved to death. Perhaps when he finds himself in such ill-plight he will begin to droop his crest. Captain Sandrino Monaldi came at once into my prison, with about twenty of the castellan's servants. They found me on my knees, and I did not turn at their approach, but went on paying my horizons before a god, the father, surrounded with angels, and a Christ arising victorious from the grave, which I had sketched upon the wall, with a little piece of charcoal I had found covered up with earth. This was after I had lain four months upon my back in bed with my leg broken, and had so often dreamed that angels came and ministered to me, that at the end of those four months the limb became as sound as though it never had been fractured. So then these fellows entered, all in armor, as fearful of me as though I were a poisoned freezing dragon. The captain spoke as fellows, you must be aware that there are many of us here, and our entrance has made a tumult in this place, yet you do not turn round. When I heard these words I was well able to conceive what greater harm might happen to me, but being used and hardened to misfortune I said to them, and to this god who supports me, to him in heaven I have turned my soul, my contemplation, and all my vital spirits. To you I have turned precisely what belongs to you, what there is of good in me you are not worthy to behold, nor can you touch it. Do then to that which is under your control, all the evil you are able. The captain in some alarm, and not knowing what I might be on the point of doing, said the four of his tallest fellows, put all your arms aside. When they had done so he added, now upon the instant leap on him and secure him well. Do you think he is the devil that so many of us should be afraid of him? Hold him tight now, that he may not escape you. Seized by them with force and roughly handled, and anticipating something far worse than what afterwards happened, I lifted my eyes to Christ and said, Oh just God, thou paidest all our debts upon that high-raised cross of thine, wherefore then must my innocence be made to pay the debts of whom I do not even know. Nevertheless, thou will be done. Meanwhile the men were carrying me away with a great lighted torch, and I thought that they were about to throw me down the obliot of some marble. This was the name given to a fearful place, which had swallowed many men alive. For when they are cast into it, they fall to the bottom of a deep pit in the foundation of the castle. This did not have ever happened to me. Wherefore I thought that I was made a very good bargain when they placed me in that hideous dungeon I have spoken of, where Frafoyano died of hunger, and left me there without doing me further injury. When I was alone, I began to sing a deep profound exclamavé and miserere, and in te domine speravi. During the whole of the first day of August I kept festival with God, my heart rejoicing ever in the strength of hope and faith. On the second day they drew me from that hole and took me back again to the prison where I had drawn those representations of God. On arriving there, the sight of them filled me with such sweetness and such gladness that I wept abundantly. On every day that followed, the castellans sent to know what I was doing and saying. The pope, who had heard the whole history, and I must add that the doctors had already given the castellan over, spoke as fellows. Before my castellan dies I will let him put that Benvenuto to death in any way he likes, for he is the cause of his death, and so the good men shall not die unrevenged. On hearing these words from the mouth of Duke Pierre Luigi the castellan replied, So then the pope has given me Benvenuto and wishes me to take my vengeance on him. Dismiss the matter from your mind and leave me to act. If the heart of the pope was ill disposed against me, that of the castellan was now at the commencement savage and cruel and extreme. At this juncture the invisible being who had diverted me from my intention of suicide came to me, being still invisible, but with a clear voice, and shook me and made me rise and said to me, army, my Benvenuto, quick, quick, betake thyself to God with thy accustomed prayers, and cry out loudly, loudly. In a sudden consternation I fell upon my knees, and recited several of my prayers in a loud voice. After this I said, Que habitat in agitorio, then I communed a space with God, and in an instant the same clear and open voice said to me, Go to rest, and have no further fear. The meaning of this was, that the castellan, after giving the most cruel orders for my death, suddenly countermanded them and said, Is not this Benvenuto the man whom I have so warmly defended, whom I know of a surety to be innocent, and who has been so greatly wronged? O how will God have mercy on me and my sins, if I do not pardon those who have done me the greatest injuries? O why should I injure a man, both worthy and innocent, who has only done me services and honour? Go to, instead of killing him, I give him life and liberty, and in my will I'll have it written, that none shall demand of him the heavy debt for his expenses here, which he would elsewise have to pay. This the Pope heard, and took it very ill indeed. Chapter 121 I meanwhile continued to pray as usual, and to write my capitolo, and every night I was visited with the gladdest and most pleasant dreams that could be possibly imagined. It seemed to me, while dreaming, that I was always in the visible company of that being, whose voice and touch, while he was still invisible, I had so often felt. To him I made but one request, and this I urged most earnestly, namely, that he would bring me where I could be called the son. I told him that this was my sole desire I had, and that if I could but see the son once only, I should die contented. All the disagreeable circumstances of my prison had become, as it were, to me friendly and companiable. Not one of them gave me annoyance. Nevertheless, I ought to say that the Castellans parasites, who are waiting for him to hang me from the battlement, whence I had made my escape, whence I saw that he had changed his mind to the exact opposite of what he previously threatened, were unable to endure the disappointment. Accordingly, they kept continually trying to inspire me with the fear of imminent death, by means of various terrifying hints. But as I have already said, I had become so well acquainted with troubles of this sort, that I was incapable of fear, and nothing any longer could disturb me. Only I had that one great launching to behold the sphere of the sun, if only in a dream. Thus then, while I spent many hours a day in a prayer, with deep emotion of the spirit toward Christ, I used always to say, Oh, very Son of God, I praise thee by thy birth, by thy death upon the cross, and by thy glorious resurrection, that thou wilt die to let me see the sun, if not otherwise at least in dreams. But if thou wilt grant me to behold these mortal eyes of mine, I engage myself to come and visit thee at thy holy sepulchre. This vow and these my greatest prayers to God I made upon the 2nd of October, in the year 1539. Upon the following morning, which was the 3rd of October, I woke at daybreak, perhaps an hour before the rising of the sun, dragging myself from the miserable lair in which I lay. I put some clothes on, for it had begun to be cold. Then I prayed more devoutly than ever I had done in the past. Fervently imploring Christ, that he would at least grant me the favor of knowing by divine inspiration, what sin I was so sorely expiating. And since his divine majesty had not deemed me worthy of beholding the sun, even in a dream, I besought him to let me know the cause of my punishment. End of chapters 117 through 121, chapters 122 through 126 of the autobiography of Benvenuto Zellini, volume 1. This is the LibriVox recording. All the LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The autobiography of Benvenuto Zellini, volume 1, translated by John Eddington Simons, chapters 122 through 126, chapter 122. I had barely uttered these words, when the invisible being, like a whirlwind, called me up and bore me away into a large room, where he made himself visible to my eyes in human form, appearing like a young man whose beard is just growing, with the face of indescribable beauty, but austere, not wanton. He bade me look around the room and said, The crowd of men who ceased in this place, are all those who up to this day have been born and afterwards have died upon the earth. Thereupon I asked him why he brought me his hither, and he answered, Come with me, and thou shalt soon behold. In my hand I had a poneyard, and upon my back a coat of mail, and so he led me through that vast hall, pointing out the people, who were walking by innumerable thousands up and down, this way and that. He led me onward, and went forth in front of me, through a little low door into a place, which looked like a narrow street, and when he drew me after him into the street, at the moment of leaving the hall, behold, I was disarmed and closed in a white shirt, with nothing on my head, and I was walking on the right hand of my companion. Finding myself in this condition, I was seized with wonder, because I did not recognize this street, and when I lifted my eyes, I discerned that the splendor of the sun was striking on a wall, as it were a house front just above my head. Then I said, Oh my friend, what must I do, in order to be able to ascend so high, that I may gaze upon the sphere of the sun himself? He pointed out some huge stairs, which were on my right hand, and said to me, Go up the other by thyself. Quitting his side, I ascended the stairs backwards, and gradually began to came within the region of the sunlight. Then I hastened my steps and went on, always walking backwards, as I have described, until I discovered the whole sphere of the sun, the strength of his rays, as is their want, first made me close my eyes, but becoming aware of my misdoing, I opened them wide, and gazing steadfastly at the sun exclaimed, Oh my son, for whom I have passionately yearned, I'll bet your rays may blind me, I do not wish to look on anything again but this. So I stayed a while, with my eyes fixed steadily on him, and after a brief space I beheld, in one moment, the whole might of those great burning rays fling themselves upon the left side of the sun, so that the orb remained quite clear without its rays, and I was able to contemplate it with vast delight. It seemed to me something marvelous, that the rays should be removed in that manner. Then I reflected what a divine grace it was, which God had granted me that morning, and cried aloud. Oh wonderful thy power, oh glorious thy virtue, how far greater is the grace which thou art granting me than that which I expected. The sun without his rays appeared to me to be above the purest molten gold, neither more nor less. While I stood contemplating this wonder of thing, I noticed that the middle of the sphere began to swell, and the swollen surface grew, and suddenly a Christ upon the cross formed itself out of the same substance as the sun. He bore the aspect of divine benignity with such fair grace, that the mind of man could not conceive the southern part of it. And while I gazed next to thee, I shouted, a miracle, a miracle, oh God, how clemency divine, oh immeasurable goodness, what is it, though has deigned this day to show me? While I was gazing and exclaiming thus, the Christ moved towards that part, where his rays were settled, and the middle of the sun once more bulged out as it had done before. The boss expanded, and suddenly transformed itself into the shape of a most beautiful Madonna, who appeared to be sitting and thrown on high, holding her child in her arms, was an attitude of the greatest charm and a smile upon her face. On each side of her was an angel, whose beauty far surpasses men's imagination. I also saw within the runger of the sun, upon the right hand, a figure robed like a priest, this turned its back to me, and kept its face directed to the Madonna and the Christ. All these things I beheld, actual, clear and vivid, and kept returning thanks to the glory of God as loud as I was able. The marvelous apparition remained before me little more than half a quarter of an hour, then it dissolved, and I was carried back to my dark lair. I began at once to shout aloud, the virtue of God has deigned to show me all his glory, the which perchance no mortal eye has ever seen before. Therefore I know surely that I am free and fortunate, and in the grace of God. But you miscrants shall be miscrants still, accursed and in the wrath of God. Marx says, for I am certain of it, that on the day of all saints, the day upon which I was born in 1500, on the first of November, at four hours after nightfall, on that day which is coming you will be forced to lead me from this gloomy dungeon. Less than this you will not be able to do, because I have seen it with these eyes of mine, and in that throne of God. The priest who kept his face turned to God and his back to me, that priest was St. Peter, pleading my cause, for the shame he felt that such full wrongs should be done to Christians in his own house. You may go and tell it to whom you like, for none on earth has the power to do me harm henceforward, and tell that Lord who keeps me here, that if he will give me wax or paper, and the means of portraying this glory of God, which was revealed to me, most assuredly shall I convince him of that, which now perhaps he holds in doubt. Chapter 123 The physicians gave the castellan no hope of his recovery, yet he remained with the clear intellect, and the humors which used to afflict him every year had passed away. He devoted himself entirely to the care of his soul, and his conscience seemed to smite him, because he felt that I had suffered and was suffering or grief was wrong. The pope received information from him of the extraordinary things which I related, in answer to which his holiness sent word, as one who had no face either in God or out beside, that I was mad, and that he must do his best to mend his health. When the castellan received this message, he sent to cheer me up, and furnished me with writing materials and wax, and certain little wooden instruments employed in working wax, adding many words of courtesy, which were reported by one of his servants who bore me goodwill. This man was totally the opposite of that rascally gang who had wished to see me hanged. I took the paper and the wax, and began to work, and while I was working I wrote the following sonnet addressed to the castellan. If I, my lord, could show to you the truth of the paternal light to me by heaven, in the slow life revealed you sure had given more heed to mine than to a monarch's sooth. Ah, could the pastor of Christ's flock, in truth, believe how God, the soul with sight, has driven, of glory unto which no white has striven, ere he escaped earth's cave of care and cause. The gates of justice, holy and austere, would roll asunder and rude impious rage, fall chained with shrieks that should assail the skies. Had I but light, ah, me, my art should rear, a monument of heaven's high equipage, nor should my misery bear so grim a guise. The following day, when the servant of the castellan, who was my friend, brought me my food, I gave him this sonnet copied out in writing. Without informing the other ill-disposed servants who were my enemies, he handed it to the castellan. At that time this worthy man would gladly have granted me my liberty, because he fancied that the great wrong done to me was the main cause of his death. He took the sonnet, and having read it more than once exclaimed, These are neither the words nor the thoughts of a madman, but rather of a sound and worthy fellow. Without delay he ordered his secretary to take it to the pope, and place it in his own hands, adding a request for my deliverance. While the secretary was on his way with my sonnet to the pope, the castellan sent me lights for day and night, together with all the conveniences one could wish for in that place. The result of this was that I began to recover from my physical depression, which had reached a very serious degree. The pope read the sonnet several times, then he sent word to the castellan that he meant presently to do what would be pleasing to him. Certainly the pope had no unwillingness to release me then, but senior Pierre Luigi, his son, as it were in the pope's despite, kept me there by force. The death of the castellan was drawing near, and while I was engaged in drawing a modeling that miracle which I had seen, upon the morning of all saint's day he sent his nephew, Piero Ogolini, to show me certain jewels. Now sooner had I set eyes on them that I exclaimed, this is the counter sign of my deliverance. Then the young man who was not a person of much intelligence began to say, never think of that Benvenuto. I replied, take your gems away, for I am so treated here that I have no light to see by, except what this murky cavern gives, and that is not enough to test the quality of precious stones. But as regards my deliverance from this dungeon, the day will not end before you come to fetch me out. It shall and must be so, and you will not be able to prevent it. The man departed and had me locked in, but after he had remained away two hours by the clock, he returned without armed men, bringing only a couple of lads to assist my movements. So after this fashion he conducted me to the spacious rooms which I had previously occupied, that is to say in 1538, where I obtained all the conveniences I asked for. After the lapse of the few days, the castellan, who now believed that I was at large and free, succumbed to his disease and departed this life. In his room remained his brother, Mr. Antonio Ugolini, who had informed the deceased governor that I was duly released. From what I learned, this Mr. Antonio received commission from the Pope to let me occupy that commodious prison until he had decided what to do with me. Mr. Durante of Bressia, whom I have previously mentioned, engaged the soldier, formerly drugist of Prato, to administer some deadly liquor in my food. The poison was to work slowly, producing its effect at the end of four or five months. They resolved on mixing pounded diamond with my victuals. Now the diamond is not a poison in any true sense of the word, but its incomparable hardness enables it, unlike ordinary stones, to retain very acute angles. When every other stone is pounded, that extreme sharpness of edge is lost, their fragments becoming blunt and rounded. The diamond alone preserves its trenchant qualities, wherefore, if it chances to enter the stomach together with food, the peristaltic motion, needful to digestion, brings it into contact with the coats of the stomach and the bowels. Where it sticks, and the by the action of fresh food forcing it farther inwards, after some time perforates the organs. This eventually causes death. Any other sort of stone or glass mingled with the food has not the power to attach itself, but passes onward with the victuals. Now Mr. Durante entrusted a diamond of trifling value to one of the guards, and it is said that certainly one, a goldsmith of Arezzo, my great enemy, was commissioned to pound it. The man happened to be very poor, and the diamond was worth perhaps some scores of grounds. He told the guard that the dust he gave him back was the diamond in question, properly ground down. The morning when I took it, they mixed it with all I had to eat. It was a Friday, and I had it in salad, sauce and potage. That morning I ate heartily, for I had fasted on the previous evening, and this day was a festival. It is true that I felt the victual's scrunch beneath my teeth, but I was not thinking about knavers of this sort. When I had finished, some scraps of salad remained upon my plate, and certain very fine and glittering splinters caught my eyes among those remnants. I collected them, and took them to the window, which led a flood of light into the room, and while I was examining them, I remembered that the food I ate that morning had scrunched more than usual. On applying my senses strictly to the matter, the verdict of my eyesight was, that there were certainly fragments of pounded diamond. Upon this I gave myself up without doubt as dead, and in my sorrow had recourse with pious heart to holy prayers. I had resolved the question, and thought that I was doomed. For the space of the whole hour I prayed fervently to God, returning thanks to him for so merciful a death. Since my stars had sentenced me to die, I sought it not by a bargain to escape from life so easily. I was resigned, and blessed the world and all the years which I had passed in it. Now I was returning to a better kingdom with the grace of God, the which I thought I had most certainly acquired. While I stood resolving this thought in my mind, I held in my hand some flimsy particles of the reputed diamond, which of a truth I firmly believed to be such. Now hope is immortal in the human breast, therefore I felt myself, as it were, lured onward by a gleam of idle expectation. Accordingly I took up a little knife and a few of those particles, and placed them on an iron bar of my prison. Then I brought the knife's point with a slow, strong grinding pressure to beer upon the stone, and felt it crumble. Examining the substance with my eyes, I thought that it was so. In a moment new hope took possession of my soul, and I exclaimed, Here I do not find my true foe, Mr. Durante, but the peace of bad, soft stone, which cannot do me any harm whatever. Previously I had been resolved to remain quiet and to die in peace. Now I revolved other plans, but first I rendered thanks to God, and blessed poverty. For though poverty is often times the cause of bringing men to death. On this occasion it had been the very cause of my salvation. I mean in this way. Mr. Durante, my enemy, or whoever it was, gave a diamond to Leone to pound for me of the worth of more than a hundred crowns. Poverty induced him to keep this for himself, and to pound for me a greenish barrel of the value of two carlins, thinking perhaps, because it was also a stone, that it would work the same effect as the diamond. At this time the Bishop of Pavia, brother of the Count of San Secondo, and commonly called Monsignor de Rossi of Parma, happened to be imprisoned in the castle for some troublesome affairs at Pavia. Knowing him to be my friend, I thrust my head out of the hole in my cell, and called him with a loud voice, crying that those thieves had given me a pounded diamond was the intention of killing me. I also sent some of the splinters, which I had preserved, by the hand of one of his servants for him to see. I did not disclose my discovery that the stone was not a diamond, but told him that they had most assuredly poisoned me, after the death of that most worthy man, the Castlan. During the short space of time I had to live. I begged him to allow me one day from his own stores, seeing that I had resolved to eat nothing which came from them. To this request he answered, that he would supply me with victuals. Mr. Antonio, who was certainly not cognizant of the plot against my life, stirred up a great noise, and demanded to see the pounded stone, being also persuaded that it was a diamond. But on reflection that the pope was probably at the bottom of the affair, he passed it over lightly, after giving his attention to the incident. Henceforth I ate the victuals sent me by the bishop, and continued writing my capitolo on the prison, into which I inserted daily all the new events which happened to me, point by point. But Mr. Antonio also sent me food, and he did this by the hand of that Giovanni of Prato, the drogist, then soldier in the castle whom I have previously mentioned. He was a deadly foe of mine, and was the man who had administered the powdered diamond. So I told him that I would partake of nothing he brought me, unless he tasted it before my eyes. The man replied that popes have their meat tasted. I answered, Nobleman are bound to taste the meat for popes, in like measure you, soldier drogist, peasant from Prato, are bound to taste the meat for a Florentine of my station. He retorted with coarse words, which I was not slow to pay back in kind. Now Mr. Antonio felt a certain shame for his behaviour. He had it also in his mind to make me pay the costs, which the late Castellan, poor man, remitted in my favour. So he hunted out another of his servants who was my friend, and sent me food by this man's hands. The meat was tasted for me now with good grace, and now need for altercation. The servant in question told me that the pope was being pastured every day by Monsignor de Moluc, who kept asking for my extradition on the part of the French king. The pope, however, showed little disposition to give me up, and Cardinal Farnese, formerly my friend and patron, had declared that I ought not to reckon on ensuing from that prison for some length of time. I replied that I should get out in spite of them all. The excellent young fellow bestowed me to keep quiet, and not to let such words of mine be heard, for they might do me some grave injury. Having firm confidence in God, it was my duty to await. His mercy remaining in the mean while tranquil. I answered that the power and goodness of God are not bound to stand in eve before the malign forces of iniquity. End of chapters 122 through 126 Chapter 127 of the autobiography of Benvenuto Celini Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The autobiography of Benvenuto Celini Volume 1 Translated by John Eddington Simons Chapter 127 A few days had passed when the Cardinal of Ferrara arrived in Rome. He went to pay his respects to the Pope, and the Pope detained him up to supper-time. Now the Pope was a man of great talent for affairs, and he wanted to talk at his ease with the Cardinal about French politics. Everybody knows that folk, when they are feasting together, say things which they would otherwise retain. This therefore happened. The great King Francis was most frank and liberal in all his dealings, and the Cardinal was well acquainted with his temper. Therefore the latter could indulge the Pope beyond his boldest expectations. This raised his holiness to a high pitch of merriment and gladness, all the more because he was accustomed to drink freely once a week, and went indeed to vomit after his indulgence. When therefore the Cardinal observed that the Pope was well disposed and ripe to grand favors, he begged for me at the King's demand, pressing the matter hotly, and proving that his majesty had it much at heart. Upon this the Pope laughed aloud. He felt the moment for his vomit at hand. The excessive quantity of wine which he had drunk was also operating, so he said, On the spot, this instant, you shall take him to your house. Then having given express orders to this purpose, he rose from the table. The Cardinal immediately sent for me, before Senior Pierre Luigi could get wind of the affair. For it was certain that he would not have allowed me to be loosed from prison. The Pope's mandatory came together with two great gentlemen of the Cardinals, and when four o'clock of the night was passed, they removed me from my prison, and brought me into the presence of the Cardinal, who received me with indescribable kindness. I was well lodged, and left to enjoy the comforts of my situation. Mr. Antonio, the old Castellan's brother, and his successor in the office, insisted on extracting from me the costs for food and other fees and perquisities, claimed by sheriffs and such fry, paying no heed to his predecessor's will in my behalf. This affair cost me several scores of crowns, but I paid them, because the Cardinal told me to be well upon my guard if I wanted to preserve my life. Adding, that had he not extracted me that evening from the prison, I should never have got out. Indeed, he had already been informed that the Pope greatly regretted having let me go. This capitolo I've write to Luca Martin addressing him in it as will appear. Whoso would know the power of God's dominion, and how a man resembles that high good, must lie in prison, in my firm opinion. Unbrew his thoughts and cares of home must brood, oppressed with carking pains in flesh and bone, far from his native land, full many erode. If you would feign by worthy deeds be known, seek to be prisoned without cause, lie long, and find no friend to listen to your moan. See that men rob you of your all-by-wrong, and perils to your life be used this force, hopeless of help by brutal foes and strong. Be driven at length to some mad desperate course, burst from your dungeon, leave the castle wall, recaptured, find the prison ten times worse. Now listen, Luca, to the best of all. Your leg's been broken, you've been bought and sold, your dungeons dripping, you've no cloak or shawl. Never one friendly ward, your victual's cold, are brought with sorry news by some base groom, of Prato-soldier, now druggist of old. Mark well how glory steeps her sons in gloom. You have no seat to sit on, save the stool. Yet where you are active from your mother's womb? The nave who serves has orders strict and cool, to list no ward you utter, give you no. Scarcely to open the door, such is their rule. These toys has glory for her nursing-road, no paper, pens, ink, fire, or tools of steel, to exercise the quick-brained steaming thought. A luck that I so little can reveal, fancy one hundred for each separate ill, full space and place I've left for prison-wheel. But now my former purpose to fulfill, and sing the dungeon's praise with honor to you, for these angelic tongs were scant of skill. Here never languish honest men and true, except by placement's fraud misgovernment, jealousies, hunger, or some spiteful crew. To tell the truth whereon my mind is bent, here man knows God, nor ever stands to pray, feeling his soul with hell's fierce anguish rend. Let one be famed as bad as mortal may, send him in jail two sorry years to pine, he'll come forth holy, wise, beloved our way. Here soul flesh closes their substance gross refine, each bulky load grows light like grossamere, celestial thrones before purge eye-bite will shine. I'll tell thee a great marvel, friend, give ear. The fancy took me, on one day to write. Learn now what shifts one may be put to hear. My cell I search, prick-brows and hair upright, then turn me toward a cranny in the door, and with my teeth a splinter disunite. Next find a piece of brick upon the floor, crumble apart thereof to powder small, and from a paste by strangling water or. Then, then came poise, his fury call, into my carcass by the way me thought, one's bread goes forth, there was none else at all. Now to return unto my primal thought, who wills to know what will awaits him must, first learn the ill that God for him has wrought. The jail contains all arts in act and thrust, should you but hanker after surgeon's skill, it will draw the spoiled blood from your veins adust. Next there is something in itself that will make you right eloquent, a bold brave spark, big with high soaring thought for good and ill. Blessed is the man who lies in dungeon dark, languishing many a month, then takes his light, of war, truth, peace he knows and tells the mark. Needs be that all things turned his delight, the jail has crammed his brain so full of wit, sail dance no moreest upset the white. Perchance felt urge, think how thy life did flit, nor is it true the jail can teach thee lore, to feel thy breast and heart with strength of it. Nay, for myself I'll ever praise it more, yet would I like one law past, that the man whose acts deserve it should not scape this score. Whoso hath gotten the poor folk in ban, I'd make him learn those lessons of the jail, for then he'd know all a good ruler can. He'd act like men who wait by reason's scale, nor dare to swerve from truth and right aside, nor would confusion in the realm prevail. While I was bound in prison to abide, poison of priests, priors, soldiers I could see, but those who best deserved it least I spied. How could you know what rage came over me, when for such rogues the jail relaxed her hold? This makes one weep that one was born to be. I'll add no more, now I am become fine gold, such gold as none fling slightly to the wind, fit for the best work I shall ever behold. Another point has passed into my mind, which I have not told thee, Luka, where I've wrote, was in the book of one hour-cath and kind. There down the margins I was wont to note, each torment grim that crushed me like a vice, the pace my hurrying thoughts could hardly float. To make an o, I dipped the splinter thrice, in that sick mud, borse bow could scarcely grind, spirits in hell debarred from paradise. Seeing I'm not the first by fraud can find, this I'll omit, and once more seek the cell, wherein I rack for rage both heart and mind. I praise it more than other tongues will tell, and for advice to such as do not know, swear that without it none can labour well. Yet o, for one like him I learn but now, who'd cry to me as by bested as sure, take thy clothes when venuto arise, and go. Carido I sing, sal the reginas poor, and pater nostres alms at then bestow. Morn after morn on ling folk, lame and poor. Ah me, how many a time my cheek must grow, blanched by those lilies, shall I then force fear, Florence and France, through them for evermore. If to the hospital I come unfair, find the annunziata lim'd, I'll fly, else shall I show myself a brute beast there. These words flout not her worshipped sanctity, nor those her lilies glorious, holy, pure, the which illumine earth and heaven high. But for I find, at every coin obscure, base lilies which spread hooks, where flowers should blow, needs must I fear, lest these to reinlore. To sing how many walk like me in woe, born what, how slave to serve, that hateful sign, souls lively, graceful, like to God's beloved. I saw that lethal heraldry decline, from heaven-like lightning among people wane, then on the stone I saw strange illustres shine. The castle's bell must break ere I was straying, thence issued, and these things, who speaketh true, in heaven on earth, to me made wondrous plain. Next I beheld a beer of sombre hue, adorned with broken lilies, crosses tears, and on their beds I lost both stricken crew. I saw the death, who wrecks our souls with fears. This man and that she menaced, while she cried. I clipped the folk, who harm thee with these shears. That worthy one, then on my brow wrought wide, with Peter's pen, words, which, for he bade shun, to speak them thrice, within my breast I hide. Him I beheld, who drives and checks the sun, clad with its splendors, mid his court on high, seldom seen by mortal eyes, if ever by one. Then did a solitary sparrow cry, loud from the keep, hearing which note I said. He tells that I shall live, and you must die. I sang, and wrote my heart case, head by head, asking from God pardon, and aid in need. For now I felt, my eyes outworn and dead. Never lying, tiger, wolf, or beer, new greed, hungrier than that man felt for human blood, nor viper with more venomous fang did feed. The cruel chief was he of rubber's brood, worst of the worst among a gang of knaves. His, I'll speak soft, lest I be understood. Say, have ye seen catch-pals, the famished slaves, enact a poor man's homestead to this train, smashing down Christ's madness with their staves? So on the first of August did that train, dislodge me to a tomb more foul, more cold. November dams, and dooms each rogue to pain. I at mine ears a trumpet had which told, truth, and each word to them I did repeat, reckless, if by grief's load from me were rolled. They, when they saw their final hope retreat, gave me a diamond-pounded, no fair ring, deeming that I must die if I should eat. That will and churl whose office it was to bring, my food, I bade thirst first, but meanwhile thought, not here I find my foe during the stink. Yet urged my mind unto high God I brought, beseeching him to pardon all my sin, and spoke a miserere surof rote. Then when I gained some respite from that din, of troubles, and had given my soul to God, contended better realms, and stayed to win. I saw along the path which saints have trod, from heaven descending, glad with glorious poem, an angel, clear he cried, upon earth's sod, live longer though. Through him who heard their psalm, those foes shall perish, each and all in strife, while though remainest happy, free and calm, blessed by our sire in heaven on earth for life.